Subject: 'austraLasia' #425

RM: 'NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME'

Julian Fox

SUVA: 7th October -- Fr. George Williams has forwarded an email copy of Fr. Vecchi's latest letter to confreres, the subject of which is Vocations, with the subtitle 'Now is the acceptable time'. The letter is inspiring and choc-a-block full of practical wisdom in the matter of reflection and action in this important pastoral area.

Fr. Vecchi writes in view of the forthcoming General Chapter, and the Provincial Chapters which will undertake some reflection on this topic. He avoids any heavy reliance on theological underpinnings, assuming that muich has been said on this, and turns rather to the extensive experience of the Congregation which has learnt, in the spirit of Vatican II's call for renewal, to radically yet faithfully interpret and use Don Bosco's charismatic approach and action in this regard.

The letter is salted with various references to the wider Church's reflection on Vocation. These anchor the wisdom of the Congregation in today's real world. Even in areas of deeply felt sterility, Fr. Vecchi lights the darkness with words of hope: "I like to record the episode of Samuel. At a time of decay of religious institutions, when the attentiuon of everyone was concentrated on war efforts, when even the figure of the prophets had been forgotten, Samuel received the direct call of God during the night...mo models with which to identify, and the urgent demands of the people were not of a religious nature". Contrary, then, to the anxiety of many, the Rector Major is able to proclaim that, mysteriously, 'now is the acceptable time!'

No doubt this letter is already widely available in its email version, but if one should want his or her own copy and as yet does not have one (the printed version is possibly some weeks away still) it would be possible to email you an attachment - at 25 pages, expect a short wait! Just let me know.